Two East football players transfer to Christ School

Linemen Lanning and Cooke join the Greenies

Published: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 8:25 p.m.

East Henderson's football roster was trimmed by two this week, as two key players on the line, Walker Lanning and Austin Cooke, decided to transfer to Christ School.

“I met both of these young men today, actually,” Christ School Director of Athletics David Gaines said Tuesday night. “Both families had acquired information about an interview back in July with admissions, and now both boys are officially here.”

Lanning and Cooke were both entering their senior seasons at East, but due to the sixth semester rule at North Carolina private schools, they will be re-classed as juniors.

Lanning, a 6-4, 260-pound offensive and defensive lineman, already had two college scholarship offers prior to the season: Youngstown State in Ohio and the University of Albany in New York. He was a Times-News All-Area selection last year who earned All-WNC Athletic Conference honors, leading the Eagles in tackles with 56.5, including 6.5 for a loss. He also had two forced fumbles.

Cooke was a multi-sport standout who also played basketball and baseball at East.

Both East and Christ School had successful football seasons last year.

The Greenies had an undefeated regular season, making it all the way to the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association's Division II championship, where they fell 54-38 to Davidson Day.

“We already had a pretty good line, but these two are pretty big kids who are going to be welcome additions to our team and our school,” Gaines said.

The Eagles had one of the highest-scoring offenses in the area last year and ended up with an 11-2 record and a perfect 7-0 mark in the WNC Athletic Conference. They ended up falling to Freedom in the second round of the state playoffs.

Following the season, two fixtures on East's sideline left for other schools. Longtime head coach Brett Chappell left to take the head coaching job at Pisgah, and his offensive coordinator, Jeff Frady, left to take the head coaching job at his alma mater, Enka. East hired West Stokes' defensive coordinator Steve Whitt as head coach in March.

<p>East Henderson's football roster was trimmed by two this week, as two key players on the line, Walker Lanning and Austin Cooke, decided to transfer to Christ School.</p><p>“I met both of these young men today, actually,” Christ School Director of Athletics David Gaines said Tuesday night. “Both families had acquired information about an interview back in July with admissions, and now both boys are officially here.”</p><p>Lanning and Cooke were both entering their senior seasons at East, but due to the sixth semester rule at North Carolina private schools, they will be re-classed as juniors.</p><p>Lanning, a 6-4, 260-pound offensive and defensive lineman, already had two college scholarship offers prior to the season: Youngstown State in Ohio and the University of Albany in New York. He was a Times-News All-Area selection last year who earned All-WNC Athletic Conference honors, leading the Eagles in tackles with 56.5, including 6.5 for a loss. He also had two forced fumbles.</p><p>Cooke was a multi-sport standout who also played basketball and baseball at East.</p><p>Both East and Christ School had successful football seasons last year.</p><p>The Greenies had an undefeated regular season, making it all the way to the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association's Division II championship, where they fell 54-38 to Davidson Day.</p><p>“We already had a pretty good line, but these two are pretty big kids who are going to be welcome additions to our team and our school,” Gaines said. </p><p>The Eagles had one of the highest-scoring offenses in the area last year and ended up with an 11-2 record and a perfect 7-0 mark in the WNC Athletic Conference. They ended up falling to Freedom in the second round of the state playoffs.</p><p>Following the season, two fixtures on East's sideline left for other schools. Longtime head coach Brett Chappell left to take the head coaching job at Pisgah, and his offensive coordinator, Jeff Frady, left to take the head coaching job at his alma mater, Enka. East hired West Stokes' defensive coordinator Steve Whitt as head coach in March.</p>